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My Father-in-Law got a GoPro Hero3+ Silver (I’m fairly certain on the Silver, definitely a Hero3) for Christmas and was kind enough to let me wear it during my New Year’s Day run.

He put it in Timelapse mode to take a photo every 2 seconds and off I went. 35 minutes and 7k later, I was done.

Using the included GoPro Studio software, I was able to import the over 1,000 photos and create the video below. Because HD video (and a good number of video formats) are 24 frames-per-second, I actually had to import the photos as 12fps first and then render the .m4v regularly otherwise it would be a 40-second, 300+ mph rocket launch.

As it is you can see me run 4.4 miles in around 1:30, or roughly a 180 mph sprint. Next time I’ll record at 1 or even .5 seconds for a smoother, slower video.

For the unaware, Monument Valley is a mobile game from ustwo that follows a protagonist, Ida, through a 3d/2d geometric wonderland which draws heavily from the works of M. C. Escher. It’s also got the 8-bit flavor of classic NES games and a glorious soundtrack & sound effects that recall those same games (think Legend of Zelda).

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Despite the negative coverage around “bendgate”, including another article published just today, I happily tote my 6 Plus in my back pocket (I just don’t sit down with it still there).

My previous iPhones – a 4 that went to a watery grave at the local pool & a 4S that I shattered in a moment of extreme anger – both went caseless. Sure they had some nicks but no screen scratches or cracks, just normal wear & tear from average usage.

My main phone use case, the one that really defines me, is running with my phone strapped to my arm so I can log all kinds of data via iSmoothRun. Part of my excitement over the new iPhones was their dedicated M8 processors for tracking motion. It’s definitely a boon for battery life as I’ve never drained more than a percentage point or two during my average jog (5-7k).

But new hardware means new accessories, new routines and new challenges. Case in point: there’s not yet a running armband on the market for the 6 Plus. What that means functionally may shock some of you: I’ve been holding my phone in my left hand during all my runs over the past month.

Before you call a mental health professional on my behalf, I am using the silicone RED case from Apple. I’m brave but I’m not completely stupid. The combination of “bendgate” and a lack of any armband options (though I hope to buy one soon) made me just a bit more overprotective of the current phone than the last two. Also, despite feeling emotionally satisfying, smashing a phone like I did makes you realize just how fragile they are. I was just really lucky before.

No other phone has left me feeling like it’s about to jump out of my hand quite like this one, so a case is about function (peace of mind) as much as fashion. I’m thinking maybe a leather case might be more my aesthetic but the current case screams “Go Dawgs” and I’m ok with that.

Ideally I’d use something that was either malleable and slim enough to fit in an armband without me removing it, or I’d go completely in the opposite direction and get a Twelve South case for maximum ostentatiousness. I’ve always liked the exposed Apple logo as my hipness signifier but I could change my mind.

Whatever my choice, I’m committed to using the new phone as my primary computing device. I even typed this post using iA Writer and the suggested text feature in iOS 8. I still wish the 6 Plus had the iPad-style split keyboard in landscape orientation, but maybe I’ll find another solution.

For now I’m just excited to be using my phone more often. Where before my 4S had started to feel like the participation ribbon in my daily technology race, I really feel like I’ve won first prize now.

Until next time, I’ll be the one bravely toting my phone like a red relay baton.